SPRINGFIELD — Illinois will become the 15th state to legalize same-sex marriage after the House narrowly approved the bill Tuesday.

A little more than an hour later, the Senate also approved the bill without debate.

The bill now heads to Gov. Pat Quinn, who said he will sign it into law. Quinn issued a statement Tuesday saying the vote "put our state on the right side of history."

The House voted 61-54 to legalize same-sex marriage less than six months after sponsoring Rep. Greg Harris, D-Chicago, put off a vote because he said he didn't have the votes to pass it. The bill needed 60 votes to pass the House.

Harris changed Senate Bill 10 before Tuesday's vote, delaying its effective date until June 1. That meant the bill needed 60 votes to pass the House on Tuesday instead of 71. It is also the reason why the Senate had to vote on the bill again after passing it on Valentine's Day.

"I think we have a wonderful day for the state of Illinois here," Harris said at a news conference following the vote. "It should be a proud moment for everyone in our state, but it should be especially a very happy moment for the thousands of lesbian and gay families across our state who now know they are on a very short path to achieving equality and all of the protections our law allows."

However, the Catholic Conference of Illinois issued a statement that said the vote went "against the common consensus of the human race" and undermines the institution of marriage.

"The Catholic Conference of Illinois is deeply disappointed that members of the General Assembly chose to redefine what is outside of its authority — a natural institution like marriage," the statement said. "We remain concerned about the very real threats to religious liberty that are at stake with the passage of this bill."

Harris said House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, "made the difference in convincing some of my folks who were taking a little bit more time in making up their minds it was the right thing to do." He said Madigan "pushed the bill across the finish line."

Madigan said he used the "art of persuasion" on between five and 10 House members in an effort to round up the votes to pass the bill. He said he couldn't use his art of persuasion when the bill was pending in May because the gap was wider then.

Madigan credited Harris and other proponents with building support for the bill over the summer.

Madigan, who rarely speaks on bills on the House floor, spoke in favor of the same-sex marriage bill, invoking Pope Francis to support his position.

"Pope Francis of the Roman Catholic Church was quoted as saying 'If someone is gay and searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge,'" Madigan said. "He has articulated the basics of my thinking on this issue. For those who happen to be gay and living in a very harmonious, productive relationship, but illegal, who am I to judge if it should be illegal?"

Page 2 of 2 - Lengthy debate

For more than 2½ hours Tuesday, proponents and opponents debated their positions on same-sex marriage.

Proponents cast it as a rights issue in which all couples could seek the benefits of marriage. Opponents countered that same-sex marriage violated their religious beliefs and that the bill did not contain sufficient protections for those beliefs.

"This bill is the worst in the U.S. in protecting religious liberty," said Rep. Jeanne Ives, R-Wheaton. "It does not have the religious protections most of us agree should happen."

Supporters said the bill does protect religious freedom.

"I was born and raised a Catholic; I raised my children as Catholic," said Rep. Mike Zalewski, D-Riverside. "If there was anything in this legislation that prevented people from exercising their faith, I would not support it."

Harris said the bill as written specifically immunizes religious leaders from having to perform same-sex marriages and also exempts religious facilities from hosting them.

Rep. David Reis, R-Willow Hill, said that didn't go far enough.

"Why are religious rights only granted to priests, pastors and rabbis?" Reis said. "What about our rights? This is about individual religious rights."

Some lawmakers cited family experiences in casting their votes. Rep. Ed Sullivan, R-Mundelein, voted for the bill after saying his mother-in-law is gay.

"How do I face my children? How do I tell them there's something wrong with their grandma? I won't," Sullivan said.

Rep. Dwight Kay, R-Glen Carbon, said biblical teachings should determine how someone votes on the issue.

"The Constitution has always looked to the scriptures for guidance," Kay said. "I've heard nothing today about the scriptures. All I've heard about is human rights. My conviction is that this is wrong, but my conviction is scripture is right."

Several lawmakers likened the bill to civil rights struggles.

"Not long ago, folk who looked like me were outlawed from doing certain things in this country," said Rep. Ken Dunkin, D-Chicago, who is African-American. "Jesus loved everybody."

However, Rep. Mary Flowers, D-Chicago, who is also black, objected to the comparison.

"I don't appreciate race being injected into this conversation," Flowers said. "Those couples will not be ever, ever truly married in God's eyes."

A number of black clergy were opposed to the bill, and some even talked of fielding primary election opponents against lawmakers who supported it. Some lawmakers, in fact, indicated they wanted to hold off on a vote until early next year, after the deadline passed for election filings.

Madigan, though, said lawmakers who voted for the bill shouldn't be afraid of upcoming elections.

"I think the country and society is at the point where not only is this accepted, it's expected," Madigan said. "I feel a significant majority of the country feels this is where the country ought to move."